Today is the Joti-Jot Purab -the anniversary of the passing away of the Eighth Master -Guru Harkrishan Sahib -the child Guru, who passed away serving humanity and in whose memory stands in the heart of Delhi -Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. World Sikh News joins the suffering humanity in prayer to Akalpurakh to alleviate the situation and give strength to the Sikhs to do Sewa with the same zeal and enthusiasm as the Eighth Master treated patients of smallpox and cholera. Gurmeet Singh of WSN’s Delhi Desk reviews the situation in the capital of India and how Sikhs there are responding to it in the true spirit of Sikhism.

DELHI IS BURNING, NOT BECAUSE of the summer heat but because of the pyres of Covid19 patients who have succumbed to the deadly virus. 348 people died yesterday in Delhi, there were 92029 active and critical cases, increasing at an average rate of 24,000 every day, as per data of India’s Health Ministry. This does not take into account those who are self-quarantined and are arranging medical care on their own.

A month ago in March 2021, Delhi was getting back to normal and there was all-around laxity. From Prime Minister Narendra Modi downwards, there was a thrust of electioneering, carelessness and overconfidence. Even when the Parliament was suddenly adjourned, people did not wake up. In less than two weeks, in April 2021, all hell broke loose.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had to first go for a complete weekend lockdown and then for a week’s lockdown till 26 April. Health bulletins predict a peaking of the pandemic with an expectation of more than 500,000 cases in a day -the highest for any country since the pandemic in April 2020.  Sources in the Delhi administration say that lockdown is likely to be extended till May end, though, to put up a brave face, it may be extended week by week from tomorrow.

Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad is the new messiah of the times, which has started “Oxygen Langar” for the needy patients, with patients in their cars or on chairs outside with makeshift cloth head covers to battle the summer heat.

Renowned homoeopathic doctor, Dr Amarjit Singh Chawla son of Dr Lal lost his life and adding to the woes -his doctor son, 32-year-old Dr Gurshabad Singh is admitted with the need of oxygen in Max Saket.  As we write, Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi candidate and a selfless social activist Jagtar Singh Jagga passed away succumbing to Covid19 after 10 days in the hospital. Ace mentor, motivational speaker, life coach and WSN columnist Kamaljit Singh Ahluwalia, is battling for life and is in dire need of a matching plasma donor, at the time of writing of this report.

Mercifully, to the Sikh population of Delhi, at the last minute, the elections to the DSGMC have been postponed till further notice. It is a much-needed relief that Narinder Singh -Director Gurdwara Elections of the Delhi government has told a section of the media that the next date for the DSGMC elections will be announced only after the situation in Delhi improves.

Delhi is choking and the population is in tears. Authorities logged 306 deaths on Thursday, 249 on Wednesday, 277 on Tuesday, 240 on Monday, 161 on Sunday, and 167 on Saturday. This will not get less as the number of Covid patients is increasing day by day.

Delhi is choking and the population is in tears. Authorities logged 306 deaths on Thursday, 249 on Wednesday, 277 on Tuesday, 240 on Monday, 161 on Sunday, and 167 on Saturday. This will not get less as the number of Covid patients is increasing day by day.

With not much hope from either the Government of India and Delhi, a blame game between the Centre and State goes on in the media and in court. People have taken things into their own hands.

Hospitals, both public and private, do not have beds, there is a scarcity of Oxygen and drugs are not available. A number of hospitals have approached the Delhi High Court to intervene. Twenty-five people died yesterday at the Jaipur Golden Hospital in Delhi due to a shortage of medical oxygen. The hospital too has approached the Delhi High Court to flag the oxygen crisis.

Social groups, NGOs, Sikh Samaritans and other individuals have taken up things on their hand and are trying to put some relief in the crucial times.

Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad is the new messiah of the times, which has started “Oxygen Langar” for the needy patients, with patients in their cars or on chairs outside with makeshift cloth head covers to battle the summer heat.

The foreground of the Gurdwara and the road leading to it is full of cars full of patients. Attendants are telling the media that they have nowhere to go. Relatives are running hospital beds across Delhi and only if they get some beds and if their patient’s oxygen saturation improves, they leave for hospitals. Reports confirm that they have saved the lives of 200 patients at the time of writing.

Khalsa Aid, Hemkunt Foundation, Akal Purakh Ki Fauj, Kripa 2% Waale, Gurdwaras in Motinagar, Indirapuram, Lajpat Nagar, Delhi South, Panthic Saanjh, Sikh Chamber of Commerce, World Sikh Chamber of Commerce and Sikh workers in Paschim Vihar, Rajouri Garden are all into Sewa. DSGMC has restarted its Langar and is now focussing on getting medical equipment. Hundreds of other unknown selfless workers are working round the clock to provide medical equipment, advice, referrals to all and sundry. An exasperated Manmeet Singh had to request people not to call him, but send messages, so that he can concentrate on attending to patients and relatives of patients.

As Oxygen supply is erratic and unknown, for those who are not critical, Kirpa 2% Wale -a group of Sikh youngsters have started a service of nebulisers so that some temporary relief can be provided. Others are distributing simple steamers. Sanitiser spraying services have been started in Motinagar and Mahavir Nagar area by local Sikhs who had served last year as well. A Gurdwara in Noida is also providing Langar day and night.

Though belatedly and only after the announcement of the postponement of DSGMC elections, yet all groups participating in the elections and their leaders have welcomed the postponement of elections and called upon their cadres and the Sikh population in Delhi at large to join in Sewa wherever they see a need.

The need and criticality are visible. Many activists are working as mobile help-desks, providing information, arranging food and medicine and dispersing vital information regarding the availability of medical equipment, hospital beds, medicine, etc.

Human right activists of Delhi have teamed up and are working in groups to facilitate things and save lives. Speaking to the WSN Delhi Desk, MJ Vijayan said the situation is very critical, while they are talking to authorities they are providing help themselves. Many human rights activists have been affected and a few senior lawyers and activists have passed away.

Social media is all flooded with SOS messages, requests for beds, oxygen cylinders and news of people dying. Let us all join hands in Prayer and in Sarbat da Bhala.

Today, the Indian Prime Minister has said that the second round of the Covid19 pandemic has shaken the nation. People are waiting for the leaders to be shaken out of their slumber and overconfidence or shall we ask, “when will the people thoroughly shake the leaders into being fully responsible and accountable?